The FAA has approved a supplemental type certificate (STC) for Blackhawk Group’s integration of the Hartzell five-blade composite propeller on the King Air 350 XP67A Engine+ upgrade. That powerplant modification replaces the original Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A engines with 1,200-shp PT6A-67As.

Weighing about 10 pounds less than the four-blade aluminum propeller, the carbon-fiber five-blade propeller has a smaller diameter, reducing cabin and exterior noise. Development of the composite propeller included more than 50,000 flight-test hours, 20 lightning-strike simulations, and more than 200 bird-strike tests, according to Blackhawk.

The -60A engines provide a 24% increase in available horsepower, pushing cruise speeds to above 337 knots and improving takeoff and climb performance, with the ability to climb to FL350 in less than 18 minutes.

“This STC approval is a major step forward for King Air 350 operators looking to elevate performance without buying a new airframe,” said Edwin Black, president of Blackhawk’s Proprietary Upgrades division. “By pairing Hartzell’s composite propeller with our XP67A upgrade, we are delivering a powerful, efficient solution with strong ROI.”

Growing service provider chain Vantage Aviation has completed its acquisition of the distressed Corporate Air FBO at Pittsburgh Allegheny County Airport (KAGC). Corporate Air’s ownership had faced cash flow challenges in recent years, and Vantage had supplied financial support for the former as it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year.

As part of its restructuring plan, approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Vantage became the new equity holder for the company and its subsidiaries on January 2.

The rebranded facility includes nearly 110,000 sq ft of hangars that can accommodate the latest ultra-long-range business jets, as well as an 11,600-sq-ft FBO terminal and more than 24,000 sq ft of office space. Vantage—which plans to launch a $2 million renovation of the facility this year—also acquired Corporate Air’s Part 135 certificate and Part 141 flight school as part of the court ruling.

Founded by industry veteran Ryan Maxfield and backed by Jadian Capital, Vantage made its debut as an FBO brand in late 2024. This marks the company’s sixth facility, with a seventh under construction.

“The acquisition of the Corporate Air FBO at Allegheny County Airport represents an important milestone for Vantage Aviation,” said CEO Ryan Maxfield. “KAGC is a critical business aviation airport, and this transaction allows us to strengthen our presence in a market with sustained demand from corporate, charter, and owner-flown operators.”

Private charter and MRO provider FlyExclusive has signed an authorized dealership agreement with Starlink, allowing the company to sell, install, and support Starlink’s aviation connectivity system for its own fleet and third-party aircraft owners. Installations on the company’s Bombardier Challenger 350s are scheduled to begin soon, with installation slots for external customers available immediately through the company’s MRO services team.

“Connectivity is no longer a luxury. It is a core part of the passenger experience,” said FlyExclusive COO Matt Lesmeister. “Becoming a Starlink aviation dealer strengthens our MRO capabilities while raising the bar across our fleet.”

“Our customers expect a world-class experience every time they fly with us, and that includes connectivity that works at the highest level,” said Jim Segrave, founder and CEO of FlyExclusive. “Starlink raises the bar for in-flight Wi-Fi. Leveraging the capabilities of our vertically integrated platform, we can install, support, and control quality end-to-end for our fleet and for external clients.”

Starlink uses a low-earth-orbit satellite constellation to deliver broadband connectivity with speeds up to 310 Mbps, enabling video conferencing, streaming, and large data transfers.

Gama Aviation has received UK CAA approval to extend its Part 145 maintenance scope, authorizing it to offer line and base maintenance for its Learjet 40/45 and 60.

The approval authorizes Gama to perform line and base maintenance on Learjet 40s and 45s, as well as base maintenance on Learjet 60s, from its Bournemouth, UK facility. Gama's extension of Learjet capability aligns with its “measured approach to expanding its approved maintenance scope.”

Meanwhile, the British aviation services company will open a purpose-built rotorcraft paint shop at Staverton Airport in Gloucestershire. An extension of existing capabilities at the site—which include airframe maintenance, avionics upgrades, structural work, and approved interior modifications—Gama said the paint facility “reinforces Staverton’s position as a complete rotary support hub.”

The paint shop will initially support Leonardo AW169 and AW139 and Airbus H145 projects under Gama’s existing Part 145 approval. According to Gama, the paint facility will also have the flexibility to accommodate a broader range of helicopter types on a subcontracted basis, all benefiting from Gama’s in-house design capability.

When corrosion findings don’t go exactly as expected, the repair approach can change everything. This perspective explores how Challenger operators avoid unnecessary downtime and cost while maintaining flexibility.

U.S. House of Representatives lawmakers released plans for a $22.2 billion budget for the FAA in fiscal year 2026 under a comprehensive funding package that combines full-year appropriations for multiple government agencies.

Combining the budgets of the Departments of Transportation, Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7148) would avert a government shutdown if passed before the January 30 deadline.

The House is slated to vote on the package this week before it heads to the Senate, which is not in session until next week. Thus, the Senate would have just five days to pass the bill before the current stopgap funding expires, but it faces the prospect of a major snowstorm bottlenecking the return of lawmakers.

As for the FAA budget, the bill would provide a $1.22 billion increase over FY 2025 levels, including an additional $235 million for the Air Traffic Organization and $824 million for FAA facilities and equipment. The bill would provide $10.341 billion for air traffic control operations-related functions, including funding for the FAA to hire 2,500 air traffic controllers.

NATA noted that the bill does not include the Rotor Act, which Senate Commerce Committee leaders had pushed to include in the conference agreement.

Duncan Aviation has introduced a revised pricing structure for component repairs and exchanges, including a tiered model to improve cost predictability for operators. The Lincoln, Nebraska-based company said the updated model is tied to anticipated parts requirements and structured around three service levels. 

Essential coverage applies to minor maintenance repairs and is intended to address the most common unit failures. Expanded coverage covers a broader range of failures and includes more comprehensive repairs for complex issues. And a universal flat rate option provides a single guaranteed price covering all repairs, allowing up-front cost transparency for operators.

“The aircraft component market is changing,” said Duncan Aviation business development manager Chris Gress. “We took a hard look at industry trends, specifically the influx of as-removed parts, and made changes to remain competitive while maintaining our standard of quality.”

Gress cautioned operators about purchasing part-out components, noting that while such units may carry an FAA Form 8130, many have undergone only visual inspections. He said installing components with undetected internal faults could result in damage to other aircraft systems.

The company has also revised its core exchange options. Customers can choose a standard exchange with a lower initial price and potential follow-on charges, or a flat-rate exchange that includes all required repairs if the returned core is free of physical damage.

Yingling Aviation has completed installation of its first Alto cabin audio system on a Gulfstream G550, and this is also Alto Aviation’s 100th aftermarket upgrade on the GV/G550 platform.

Alto’s cabin audio system is customized, with sound characteristics tuned to each aircraft. The tuning is accomplished by an Alto cabin systems engineer who “acoustically maps the full interior of the aircraft and adjusts the digital amplifier and speaker locations to define the optimal performance characteristics of each audio and entertainment system,” according to Alto.

All of Alto’s components hold FAA technical standard order approval. These include “very high efficiency mid/high-frequency enclosures, high-output subwoofer enclosures, and powerful yet lightweight amplifiers with pre-set custom integral equalizer and crossovers, depending on model and floor plan,” the company explained.

“On the test flight, our onsite team became instant believers,” said Josh Peterson, Yingling Aviation regional sales manager and avionics expert. “The clarity, depth, and volume the system produced were incredible. It completely transformed the cabin experience.”